Printing-machine.



A; J. WARE.

PRINTING MACHINE. APPLIGATION FILED JANS. 1911). 1,014,986, Patented Jan. 16, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

.gl @rena 1| WWYN i fm mman/ver A. J. WARE.

PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.3. 1910.

PatentecJanllQlZ a SHEETS-SHEET' 2.

#6d/ww A. J. WARE. PRINTING MACHINE.'

APPLICATION FILED JAN.3, 1910. 1,014,986, Patented Jain. 16,1912

s'sEBETs-[SHBBT s.

entran stur 'ATENT oFrIoE;

ALFRED J. WARE, 0F SEATTLE, V'ASHIING'I0N.v

PRINiNG-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. "16, 1912.

Application leti January 3, 1910. Serial No.- 536,232;

To all whom "Lt may concern:

Be it knownl that i., ALFRED d. WARE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county oii lifting and State oi' Washington, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Printing--ll/Iachines, ot which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to marking or I n printmg machines; and has for its objectto provide an improved machine of this characterwhich is particularly adapted fo printing upon bant; checks their face valu s in denominational words or symbols.

A machine embodying my invention conin the employment ott-a series of wheels having type characters upon their periphries; devices whereby the' wheels are indi- Yideally rotated into predetermined printing positions; devices whereby the wheels are automaticaliy locked in such slet condition; devices actuated through an-` agent whereby the type presented upon the printing-line has ink applied thereto and, upon the withdrawal of the inkingappliances, the continued action of such agent causes the article to be' printed to be brought into printing relation with the inked type line,

.together with the subsequent releasing of the wheels from their locked condition; and means for automatically restoring the wheels andthe setting appliances therefor to normal inoperative positions.

The invention further consists in the novel construction and combination of parts as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a printing machine constructed according to my invention, vwith `a part of the trame removed and thevcontaining case in section. Fig. 2 1s a fragmentaryplan view ot the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view with a portion of the containing case broken away and certain parts of the mechanism omitted. Fig. i is a vertical section of a part of the machine taken through 4 4 of Fig. 1. Figs. 5 andv 6 are @side elevations of coperating elements which relate respectively to the type-wheel brakes and to the inking mechanism. Referring to the drawings, 10 designates .the side members of the machine frame which is supported upon a lsuitable base 11.

Fixedly connected with said frame miembers and extending 4transversely therebe- 'v tween is an arbor 12 upon-which is mounted for independent rotary movement av4 plurality of wheels 13 severally `bearing series of type characters, such, as the words "i" one two, etc., upon portions of their peripheries (indicated by liin Figs. 1 and 4) and .having other portions thereof provided'with gear teeth 15. The Alatter are. desirably formed of less width than the faces of the respective wheels. Mounted lfor rotation upon another transversely disposed arbor 17 which is also lixedly secured to saidframe l members is a plurality of toothed pinions 18 which mesh with the teeth 15 of therespective wheels. Each of these pinions is integrally connected, as by. hubs' 19, with' toothed Wheels 20 which `are respectivelyy engaged by chains 21 `which pass about sprocket wheels 22 located to the rear and about idler-s 2,3` to the vfront of the ma-v chine. One of the links, as 21', of each chain is formedwith a block attachment 24 which is bored to accommodate a longitudinally arranged guide, rod 25. These attachments are each provided with a handle 26 which extends upwardly through slots 27 provided in the top 28 of the machine casing. In proximity to the slots are co1*-A umns of numbers 29 which are respectively spaced so thatwhen a handle' 26 is moved to be opposite a particular number of aiolf umn, the affected chain will actuate the associated sprocket wheel 20 and pinion 18 to impart motion to a type-wheel sucient to present a corresponding type character thereof in the printing line, or to the underside of the wheels and in a vertical plane with the axis of the wheels.

For selectively positioning the typewheels, pointers 26', as shown in Flg. 3, are f provided upon said handles to designate'the corresponding number in the columns 29. Drums 30 having numbers orsymbols, such as 30', upon their peripheries, are also pro' l,or symbols at a slot l-provided in the casxedly secured t'o the respective gears 34,.

are gears 37 in mesh with sector-gears 38 which are mounted for oscillation upon a stationary shaft 39. A spring 40 is connected with each of the sector gears as shown l in Fig. 1,. and with a stationary rod 41.

These springs tend to swing the respective sector gears rearwardly and, through the medium of the associated trains of gears and sprocket-chains,effect the restoration of the type-wheels to their normal inoperative po sitions and a corresponding movement to each of the respective drums. In order, however, to secure the type-wheels from bein accidentally moved from set positions prior to an impression being had therefrom, brake ldevices are provided l of sufficient power to withstand the counter force of the springs 40 and yet be yie'ldable to the rotation of the wheels when being individually adjusted throuh the instrumentality of the respective han les 26. More particularly, the brake devices for each type-wheel comprises a lever 42 fulcrumed intermediately ofv its length to a stationary rod 43 which is located above the type wheels and somewhat tothe rear of a plane projected vertically throu h the axis thereof. At the forward end o each such lever is a roller 44 which is normally pressed against and into the interstices between the teeth of a type-wheel through the oiice of a compression spring 45 which is supported by a bar 46 of the machine frame and acting upwardly under the rearward arm of a lever. To the rear of the frame is journaled a shaft 47 which may be given partial rotary movements from a manually operable crank 48 provided eXteriorly of the machine casing. Intermediate of the length of this shaft there is fixedly secured thereto a pair of elements 49 which are each provided to the forward side with an arc-shaped slot 49 to respectively accommodate pins 50. Each of these pins serve to connect the upper ends of the pairs of downwardly extending links 50 which have their lower ends connected by a rod 51 with the rear arms of spaced levers 52 which are fulcrumed to a transverse shaft 53.

Secured to the shaft 47 is the end of a coil spring 54 whose other end is connected with the rod 51 and is designed to swing the elements 49 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5 so that the lower ends of the slots 49 will normally bear 'against the pins to elevate the rear arms of levers 52. Adjacent to the rod 51, the levers 52 are connected by links 55 with a rod 55 carried by the rear arms of levers 56 which are fulcrumed to a rod 56 fiXedl'y secured to the frame. The other arms of levers 56 carry a rod 57 which serves as a fulcrum support for a plurality of upright levers 58, one for each of the brake-levers 42. Each of the levers 58 is provided in its upper arm with a hook 58 at such a distance above the fulcrum rod 57 that when the rod 57 is in its lowermost position, the hooks will be somewhat below the level of the upper surface of the rear arms of the brake-levers 42, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The upper arms of levers 58 are of a length to be engageable by stud 212 provided upon the respective sprocket-chains 21. Said studs are located at a distance to the front of the respective block attachment 24 so that when the latter are moved rearwardly the studs will encounter the upper armsof levers 58 to eect the rearward tilting of the' same against the action of springs 59 which connect the lower arms of the levers with the rod 55.

It is to be noted that the upper arm of a. lever 58, through its engaged condition with a stud, is held to be away from its respective brake-lever 42 when the block attach ment 24 is in the position whereat the handle 26 is at the rear of its slot 27 in the casing. Such a position of a block att-achment corresponds to a position of the affecte ed type wheel whereat there is no denominating character presented in the printing line. Furthermore, when the levers 58 are thus caused to be inoperative, the brake levers are operative to lock the type-wheels against accidental movement. Supplementary means is afforded for collectively controlling the levers 58 so that they may be temporarily inoperative with respect to said v brake levers. .Such means comprises a rod 60, pivotally mounted' in the machine frame and having an offset mid-portion 60 which, upon being swung into the position indicated by broken lines a in Fig. 1, by means of a :finger-piece 602 (Figs. 2 and 3), will thrust such lever -arms backwardly; but, normally, the offset portion of the rod would be pendant, as shown by full lines in Fig. 1, whereat it would have no influence -upon the movements of the levers. Below the type wheels is a platen 61 of felt, or an equivalent. which is attached to a block 62 having depending bosses 63 (Fig. 4) which are slidably Afitted for vertical movements in guide-sockets 64 provided in the frame-base. Yieldingly supported on springs 65 which are partially housed in recesses of the block 62 is a superposed plate 66 having an aperture to allow the platen being protruded therethrough when the block'is elevated as willg'be presently explained..V To limit the upward movement of the'plate 66 inrelation to the block 62, I employ bolts 67, (Fig. l) having heads which fit into. counter sunk holes in t-he plate and extend through the block to recei-ve adjustable nuts below the latter.

Above the plate 66 is a second plate 68. which is supported near each end from bolts 69 extending into holes provided in the respective frame members 10. -These bolts are slotted "or recessed, as at 69', to accominodate the points of screws 70, which serve to limit the downward travel of the plate which is thus .urged'by a spring 71 which acts against Athe top of each bolt. y

Plate 68 is provided with an aperture 68 (Fig. 6) to afford space for a line of type upon the type wheels to pass through when theplate is elevated with the other plate to accomplish the printing of the type characters upon a check which is introduced between the two plates. The inking devices consist of an ink-pad, or strip of felt, 72, which is detachably secured as by screws 73 to a transverse member 74 of a substantially U-shaped pad carrier whose respective side members 75 are pivotally connected by pins 76 with controller members 77 which are mounted for oscillation upon the arbor 12 in proximity to the frame member 10. The referred to pivotal connections are located to the rear of the arbor. Below the arbor and tothe forward side of each 'of the car- 75 whichsupports a spring 78 which is confined at its outer end by a collar '79 upon the outer end of a stem 8O which extends through a hole in the lug to be secured at its other end to the adjacent controllermember. Saidcontroller members are each provided with an upstarlding arm 7 7 which is connected by a link 81 with an arm 82 mounted for oscillatory movement upon thel shaft 47. Pivotally connected to each of the arms 82 is a detent 83 provided to the front of its connection with an arm with a lug 83 which is adapted to be engaged by a shoulder 84 of an adjacent disk 84 and o thereby to the shaft 47, to which the disks are rigidly secured, in a reverse direction to that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6. Each said detent is extended to the rear ofits connection with an arm 82 to furnish an rier members 75 is a laterally directed lug abutment 832 which, upon occasion, 1s ar in engagement atljeachiv 87 represents a sprmg retract the links and cause the inkingvpad to be swung forwardly with the pad-carriel when the detents 83 are disengaged from the disks 84. A stop, such as a pin 88,'is

side of the machine to arrest the rearward swing ofthe pad carrier when the latter is brought into a vertical position with the pad below the printing line.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the wheels 13 which carry the type characters are individually set by moving the chains 21 through the medium of the' at tached handles 26 unt-il the pointersQ- thereof are brought to indicate lthe selected numbers. in the columns 29.- When the .wheels are thus set, the drums for the several wheels are, by the i'nti'armediate trains of gears, correspondingly moved to expose, through the casing slot 31, symbols corresponding to the type characters aslthey are successively assembled in the printing line. During these set-ting movements yof the type wheels the sector gears 38 are caused by the respective trains of gears to be swung forwardly in opposition tov the springs 40. As each wheel is set it is .locked the pull exerted by the springs 40.

The printing line being composed, the article to be printed is introduced betweenthe plates 66 and 68. The crank handle 4 8 is now manipulated to actuate the shaft y47 torock the latter in the direction contrary to that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5, whereupon the disks 84 are rotated from the position in which illustrated in Fig. v1 to that shown in Fig. 6 resulting in the detents, which are engaged by the disks 'being swung forwardly and to transmit, through the medium of the links 81, a rocking movement to thecontrollers 77 which are accompanied by the ink-pad carrier until the side members 7 5 of the same encounter the pins 88, when continued movement of the'controller will, through the pin connections 76 and the stop pins 88, cause a vertical movement to the carrier tovei'ect the inking of the printing line of the type wheels. A .further movement of the shaft 47 will affect the links 81 to cause the points of t-he screws 85 to bear against the respective detents 832 and thereby tilt the latter against springs 86 so that the detent is disengaged from the disks. The links 81 which are coupled with said detents being now released, the springs 87 assert themselves to restore the various parts of the inking mechanism to their normal positions in which they are represented in Fig. 1. Meanwhile the elements 49 have been swung ywith shaft 47 until when the ends of the slots 49 engage the pins 50 to operate the levers 52 which elevates the secured in the frame members 10 at each;

whereupon, and, bl a still further moyement.

against accidental displacement as wellas 1 block 62to accomplish the printing ofthe article, and likewise effect, through the links 55 and levers 56, the raising of the levers 58, as will be understood from an inspect-ion of Fig; 5. The crank handle 48 is now released and the spring 54 acts to restore the shaft 47 into its original position result-ing in the movement of the lever 52 which allows of the retraction of the block 62 for the removal of the printed article, andthe uplifting of the links 55 with a consequent downward movement ofthe levers 58 to bring the hooks 58 thereof into engagement with the brake-levers 42 andlthereby disen gage the brake-rollers` 44 from the type.

wheels. The relative posit-ion now occupied by the parts just ,referred to are indicated by broken lines in Fig.` 5'.'

When the brake rollers are thus disengaged the springs 40 serve,n to actuate the various trains of gears 37,' 34, and 32 to make the respective sprocket Wheels 22 oper'- ative to move the chains 214 so that thepinions 18 'are actuated to rotate the type-l lwheels 13 into 'inoperative position and' which will be consummated immediately following the studs 212 of the chains 2 1 striking the levers. 58 and the dislodgment of the hooks 58' thereof from the brake levers 42 topermit the springs 45 to exercise -their office of renga'ging these brake-levers with the respective wheels. Should it be desired,

however, to make a duplicate of a composed' printing line of type-characters, then the rod 60 is turned by the finger-piece 602 to revolubly move t'he offsetv portion 60 of the rod 'against the levers 58 so that lthe latter will be tilted rearwardly and so made, in

fftheir downward movement, incapable of engaging the brake-levers which would .con-

.tinue to act and the type-wheels remain undisturbed.

What I claim as, my invention, is

1. In-a printing machine, a plurality of type wheels, springs serving to yieldingly maintain the respective wheels in inoperative posit-ion, chain actuatedmeans for rotating said wheels into selected printing potype-Wheels, springs serving to yieldingly. lmaintain the respective wheels in inoperative position, chain actuated means for rotating said wheels.' into selected printing positions-in opposition to the several springs, means for .securing said wheels in adjusted tion with a stationary shaft, a Series of typewheels rotatably mounted upon said shaft, an automatic braking device for each wheel, a platen on which the article to be marked is. supported, an inking pad, an inking-pad carrier connected for limited oscillatory movements to said shaft, a controller for said carrier mounted upon said shaft, a second shaft, a crankhandle for operating the last named shaft, connectionsI between this shaft and the platen, the brake devices, andfsaid controller whereby the oscillatory movements of such shaft causes the Asuccessive operations of the inking-device, the platen, and the disengagement of the brake devices. u

4. In a machine lfor printing checks or other' articles, the combination with a stationary shaft, a series of type-Wheels rotatably mounted upon said shaft, an automatic braking Vdevice for each wheel, a platen on which the article to be marked is supported, an inking pad, an inking-pad carrier connected for oscillatory movements to said shaft, a controller for said carrier mounted upon. the shaft, a second shaft, av -crank handle for operating -the last named shaft, connections between this shaft and the platen, t-he brake devices, and controller whereby the oscillatory movements of such shaft causesl the successive operations of the inking device, the platen, and, normally, the

Idisengagement of the brake devices, and a means whereby the last named shaft may be operated without affecting the brake devices.

5.\In a machine for printing checks or other articles, the combination with a stationary shaft, a series of type-wheels rotatably mounted upon -said shaft, a spring forV each wheel and tending to yieldingly retain the same in -inoperative positions, means for individually setting saidwheels in opposition to the respective springs, an automatic braking device for each wheel, a

platen on Which,the article to be marked is.

supported, aninking'pad, an inking pad carrier connected for limited oscillatory movements to said shaft, a controller for said carrier mounted upon the shaft, a second shaft, a. crank handle for operating the last named shaft, connections-between this shaft and the platen, the brake devices, and controller whereby the oscillatory movements of such shaft causes the successive operations of the inlting-device, the platen, and the disengagement of the brake devices, and a means whereby the aforesaid springs are rendered temporarily inoperative.

(3. In a machine for printing checks or other4 articles, the combination with a stationary shaft, a series of type-Wheels rotatably mounted. upon said shaft, .a spring for each Wheel and tending to yieldingly retain the same in inoperative positions, means for individually setting said Wheels in opposition to the respective springs, an automatic braking device for each Wheel, a platen on which the article to be marked is supported, an inking pad, an inking pad carrier connected for limited oscillatory movements to said shaft, a controller for said carrier mounted upon t-he shaft, a second shaft, a crank handle for operating the last named shaft, connections between this shaft and the platen, the brake devices, and said controller whereby the oscillatory movements of such shaft causes the successive operations, of the inking device, the platen, and the disengagement of the brake devices, and a means whereby the last named shaft may be operated Without affecting the brake devices and whereby the aforesaid springs arel rendered temporarily inoperative.

7. In a machine of the class described, a series ot' type-Wheels, devices for individually setting said type Wheels into predetermined printing positions, a spring for each of the Wheels and acting to restore the Wheels from their set posit-ions to inoperative positions, a brake device for each Wheel, a spring for effecting the engagement of each of the brake devices, a platen on which the article to be marked is supported, a means for operating the platen to move said article into printing relation with the type-Wheels, a spring for retracting the platen from the type-Wheels when said means( are inoperative, mechanical connections between said means and the various brake-devices for causing 'the latter tov be disengaged When the platen is being retracted, and means made operable by the irst mentioned springs and the type-Wheel setting-devices whereby said mechanical-connections are made inoperative to allow the brake-devices to rengage the type-Wheels.

ALFRED J. WARE. Witnesses:

H. BARNES, E. PETERSON. 

